Tommy Sheppard MP attends Scottish solidarity demo

This weekend Scottish Solidarity with Kurdistan held a demonstration in central Edinburgh to protest continuing attacks by the Turkish military on Kurdish cities and civilians.

The group delivered a letter to the Turkish Consul, which expresses concern for the women and children killed since last summer and calls for the Turkish government to end the curfews in Kurdish towns. The letter was signed by several other union members, Scottish Green party members and activists.

Around 100 people showed up to support the delivery of the letter, including Tommy Sheppard MP, SNP member for Edinburgh East. Read the letter in full below.

In addition, Scottish Solidarity activist Roza Salih attended a Unite Scottish policy conference, where a motion was passed which condemns the attacks, use of curfews and the killing of civilians in the southeast of the country. You can download the motion in full: Motion for Unite conference_180116.

c/o UNISON South Lanarkshire
21 Beckford Street
Hamilton ML3 7YH

Turkish Consul
Forsyth House
93 George Street
Edinburgh

16 January 2016

Dear Sir

We are sending you this letter to request that you convey to the Turkish government our concerns regarding the actions of state forces in the Kurdish areas such as Cizre, Silvan, Sur and others.

The number of deaths at the hands of the Turkish police and soldiers is very disturbing, as is the destruction of homes, public buildings and public areas. We are particularly concerned with the number of children who have been killed and wounded in recent months.

The Turkish President, Mr Erdogan, states that he is fighting the PKK terrorists. Even after the suicide bombing in Istanbul this week by Daesh/ISIS he equated that terrorism with the PKK. We do not accept this position at all. Daesh do not want peace whereas the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan and the wider Kurdish movement including the HDP and other political parties, have wish only for peace.

We urge the Turkish government to end the curfews of towns and allow people to attend work, school and access hospital and other medical care as well as see to the burial of their loved ones who have been victims of this conflict.

We urge the Turkish government to end its campaign of violence and intimidation.

We urge the Turkish government to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict by engaging in peaceful and democratic discussions with Kurdish leaders in Turkey.

EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR AFRIN

Life in Afrin

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“I’m sorry not to be able to be with you today, but I send a message of solidarity with today’s demonstration, and with the Kurdish people, under sustained attack across the Middle East.
The conflict in Syria has been the trigger for an onslaught against the Kurdish people, who are defending their autonomy and their rights.
We are watching closely the alarming events that have been unfolding in Turkey in recent weeks, including the killing of civilians and destruction of Kurdish homes.
Any negotiated settlement of the Syrian conflict must include peace and justice for the Kurds, including in Turkey. And the Turkish government needs as a matter of urgency to restart the peace process with the Kurds and respect the rights of all its people.
We call for an end to repression of the Kurds and justice for the Kurdish people throughout the Middle East.”

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